Pass the wine, dear. Yes, that papier-mache thing

Papier-mache is no longer just for primary school art projects: eco-nuts in Suffolk have decided to start packaging wine in the stuff. You could soon be supping a fine Rioja poured from an oblong paper shell lined with a plastic bag, thanks to British start-up GreenBottle.

El Reg doubts this sort of thing will be appearing on haute cuisine restaurant tables anytime soon, but it could be in shops from early next year. Makers GreenBottle insist that ditching the glass makes no compromise on taste (of the wine, that is).

The rationale is eco-friendly of course. Though glass bottles are usually recycled, one of these paper bottles uses only 10 per cent of a wine bottle's carbon footprint. The cardboard can be recycled or composted and the plastic film inside can be recycled where "film recycling facilities exist".

GreenBottle also points out that since paper is lighter, the bottles are cheaper to transport. The upstart start-up has been selling paper milk bottles since January through Asda and several local shops.

And the company, headquartered in Woodbridge, Suffolk, is in talks with supermarkets and wine producers to make it available to the British public as early as next year.

Martin Myerscough told PA: "It would mean an end to those morning-after trips to the bottle bank. All you would need to do is rip out the plastic lining and put the paper outer-casing in the bin or on the compost heap." ®